For my analysis of sound In a film "thriller" extract, I have chosen the film ET. The Extra Terrestrial, directed by Steven Speilberg and wrote by Melissa Mathison, released in 1982.
The short extract I haven chosen is when the charter Elliot spends a short moment with E.T after his supposed death, and then witnessing E.T coming back to life.
Throughout the whole extract we hear the use of Non - Diegetic sound through music which is played but not heard by the characters or the world on screen. As soon as the extract starts we hear a synchronous as the character Elliot looks in through the glass at E.T who is laying, supposedly dead. By having a synchronous at this moment in the scene it adds to the the sadness of Elliot; making the audience feel sorry for him. Throughout the extract Non - diegetic music is played but crescendos and diminuendos at certain points. For example at 1.28 the tone of the music changes and diminuendos as Elliot gradually walks away from E.T; this connotes to the audience that Elliot is feeling Low, weak and unhappy. At 1.40 the non - diegetic music changes again as Elliot turns around and realises E.T is not dead. The music crescendos, which matches Elliot's actions as he rushes to the coffin ET is laying in; giving the effect of panic to the audience. As Elliot lifts up the coffin E.T is laying in we hear another non - diegetic sound; almost a swish sound as the coffin opens and E.T lays awake. By having a non - diegetic sound as Elliot opens the coffin it connotes tension and excitement for the audience. At 2.36 Elliot notices people coming in the room the non - diegetic music diminuendos again which draws attention to Elliot trying to zip E.T back In his bag and shut the coffin so they don't realise he is alive, again this connotes stress and excitement for the audience to see if the people entering the room do realise E.T is alive.
Throughout the extract not only do the audience hear non - diegetic sounds we also hear diegetic sounds such as dialogue and ambient sounds; which gives key and important information that the audience need to know. For example at the start of the scene we hear Elliot talking to E.T who is supposedly dead; without this dialogue at the start of the extract the audience would not understand the narrative. Also from hearing the dialogue it connotes the sadness Elliot is feeling. At 1.30 after Elliot is finished talking to the supposedly dead E.T we hear him shut the coffin door. Although this diegetic sound is very subtle it leaves a sense of "good buy" from Elliot who then walks away, making the audience warm to Elliot and wanting to comfort him. At 1.43 as Elliot is walking away we hear the rustling of a plant growing, creating tension for the audience. At 1.46 Elliot finally stops and realises E.T is alive, he runs to the coffin to open it and we hear the sound of it opening and then the sound of him up-zipping the bag E.T is in. As all of this it taking place it creates a massive impact on the audience as it creates a thrilling sensation and connotes the action taking place. At 1.54 we then hear the voice of ET and the dialect between him and Elliot making the audience feel comfortable, and content again knowing Elliot has got his friend back. At 2.22 we then hear the diegetic sound of Elliot quickly zipping up the bag E.T is In again as we begin to hear voices of other characters entering the room. This again causes anticipation for the audience as Elliot is clearly trying to hide the fact E.T is now alive. At 2. 57 as Elliot is lent over the coffin crying, he gets pulled away from another character in the film. As he is pulled away we hear the diegetic sound of his nails being dragged across the coffin. This isn't a nice sound which adds the action of him crying; leaving the audience again feeling sorry him. At 3.03 we hear the diegetic sound of the rustling of keys which indicates to the audience the coffin is now going to get locked with alive ET in it. This again adds to the narrative and creates anxiety for the audience.
Parallel sound is used throughout the extract as the non - diegetic sound is used to support what is going on in the narrative for example towards the end of the extract when we hear the diegetic sound of the rustling of keys we also hear the non - diegetic music crescendo which adds even more stress for the audience, again at 1.43 when we hear the rustling of the plant growing the non - diegetic music diminuendos which takes the attention of the audience off the non - diegetic sound and draws attention to the diegetic sound. Sound bridges are used in the extract to connect two scenes and carry one scene to another. For example at the start of the extract when Elliot is talking to the supposedly dead E.T the non - diegetic sound is very soft however moving the scene on to the next one where he realises E.T is the alive the non - diegetic music begins to speed and gradually change Into a more frantic sound.
From the extract it gives the themes of love, death, miracle and hope. The sounds used helped to the establish the narrative and leave the audience with different emotions after different scenes. Non - diegetic sounds were used to create emotion and and sound effects where as diegetic sounds were used to create dialogue and ambient sounds.
